Our summer Guide camp this year took place over the August Bank Holiday. For the first time we decided to attend an organised camp at Waddow Hall, near Clitheroe. The Wellies and Wristbands camp is advertised as a music festival just for Guides. It is a catered camp meaning all we needed to take was our tents and wellies. We took 11 very well behaved Guides on the train all the way to Clitheroe. As the train stopped in Leeds a further twenty Guides, with very large rucksacks, joined us on their way to the camp.

Once arriving at Waddow Hall it was a long haul up the hill to the top of the camp site where the Guides pitched their tents. The older Guides helped the younger girls, two of who had never been on camp. Once our camp was set up we joined the other Guide groups at a welcome and to watch some of the bands playing that evening. The camp consisted of 1400 Guides, senior section and leaders.

During the day there were activities from 9am to 6pm and the girls were able to go canoeing, abseiling, low ropes, nightline, caving and tree climbing. The Guides were all given booked activities and there was plenty of free time to attend other activities. They loved the hair braiding and face painting as well as a craft tent. There were also inflatables to try, including zorbing. There was a science tent, with fun experiments to try including exploding bags. A drumming workshop was particularly enjoyed by the leaders. Even with no sense of rhythm or an ear for music a group of girls and leaders managed to produce music with drums, bells and symbols. There was a great relaxing zone with hots tubs, which all the Guides tried.

The leaders were not forgotten and were allowed to participate in the activities if they wished. There was a leaders’ lounge or tent which provided refreshments and crafts for leaders to try. We all enjoyed using fabric pens and stencils to decorate canvas bags. The Leaders also enjoyed a spot of Afternoon Tea in the stately home!

The Guides loved the evening entertainment. It wasn’t quite Leeds festival but the bands included Bars and Melody, Three Times Over, The Waiters and Only the Young. They all danced into the night or at least until 10pm, with their glow stick hair bands.

We were blessed with good weather over the weekend so we could all enjoy the activities on offer. On our last day we woke to the sound of rain in the early hours. The rain stayed away as we packed up, although we didn’t have time to completely dry the tents out. After late nights and fun packed days we left with some very tired Guides.

The Bank Holiday train was very busy and the Guides had to resort to sitting on their bags until we were nearly home. This has to be part of the adventure and a camp the Guides will remember for a long time.

Jackie Nithsdale